A home for Winnipeg history
Dedicated preservationists maintain vibrant life of Ralph Connor House in Armstrong’s Point
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/03/2024 (789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The moment she first stepped inside Ralph Connor House, Penni Churko fell in love.
“You walk through the doors and the house wraps you in a hug,” Churko says. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere and it is a gorgeous building. It’s just beautiful.”
Located at 54 West Gate in Armstrong’s Point, the 1914 mansion belonged to influential minister and novelist Charles Gordon. The 23-room riverside house has been home to the University Women’s Club of Winnipeg since shortly after Gordon’s death in 1937.
The house has city, provincial and national historic site designations.
Churko serves as president of Friends of the Ralph Connor House, the charitable organization that owns and maintains the three-storey building.
“I’m very passionate about preserving our built heritage, not just in Winnipeg but everywhere,” she says.
Under the pen name Ralph Connor, Gordon wrote adventure novels that sold millions of copies worldwide and made him a millionaire.
He maintained his writing career while practising as a Presbyterian church leader and later as one of the founders of the United Church of Canada.
In 1913, Gordon commissioned architect George Northwood to build the residence, where he lived with his wife Helen and their seven children.
Volunteer opportunities
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
People are invited to attend the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, presented by Volunteer Manitoba and the provincial chapter of the Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada, on April 4. The event is at the Viscount Gort Hotel (1670 Portage Ave.), from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees can meet representatives from more than 50 non-profit organizations, explore services and find volunteer roles suited to various skills and schedules, including remote options. Retirees, working professionals, newcomers, students and youth seeking valuable experiences are welcome. The event is free to attend, and there are prizes to win. Free parking is available. More information is available at http://wfp.to/jCU. RSVP here.
Parkinson Canada needs volunteers to join the Parkinson Advisory Council. The council plays a crucial role in advising the CEO to ensure the voices of people living with Parkinson’s are heard and integrated into the organization’s work. Council members meet monthly to provide valuable insights and recommendations, with a commitment of two to four hours per month and optional involvement in committees. Applications from diverse backgrounds are encouraged. People with lived experience with Parkinson’s or as a care partner, and with the skills and qualities needed, can impact the lives of those affected by Parkinson’s. Apply online, with a resumé, at http://wfp.to/jC5 by April 12.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba needs volunteers for the 35th annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic. The event has welcomed more than one million children and their stuffed animals. Kids learn that the hospital is a helpful place, making them feel comfortable in health-care settings. Roles include helping with activities, setup, guest services, entertainment and more. Sign up at http://wfp.to/jCl by July 31.
Canadian Parents for French — Manitoba needs bilingual volunteers to participate in the 2024 provincial level of Concours d’art oratoire. The event is Canada’s largest annual French public-speaking competition. Thousands of students participate every year in communities big and small for an opportunity to win prizes and/or scholarships to post-secondary institutions. Email Kaylee Green at kgreen@cpfmb.com to register.
St. Boniface Hospital’s patient and family advisory council needs new members and is seeking former patients or family of former patients. Email sbghvolunteer@sbgh.mb.ca or call 204-237-2442 by April 8, although applications are always welcome.
Borderline Personality Disorder Association Manitoba needs new directors to serve on its board and volunteers to help deliver its programs. The association was incorporated this year to support and improve the lives of people with the disorder and their families. People with knowledge of borderline personality disorder through lived experience, experience with loved ones or related experience in mental health, social work or therapy can email info@bpdami.com by May 31.
The Assiniboine Park Conservancy is seeking 500 volunteers to fill a variety of roles in preparation for the busy summer season. Flexible scheduling and comprehensive training is offered. Volunteers will be trained at the park, the zoo or the Leaf and can take shifts at their preferred location. Must be 14 or older. Opportunities for adult volunteers include ambassadors, engagement ambassadors, visitor services concierge, special-events assistants, and facilities and grounds support. Youth ages 14 to 18 are encouraged to apply for the zoo camp crew or zoo teen ambassador roles. Volunteers are asked to make a long-term commitment. A minimum commitment of 60 hours for adults and 40 hours for teens is required per year. Apply at http://wfp.to/jQC by June 17.
The Link: Youth and Family Supports, a not-for profit organization providing service to more than 10,000 families in Manitoba, needs active, community-minded people to serve as board members. Consideration will be given to applicants who reflect the diversity of the program’s participants, including Indigenous people and visible minorities. Knowledge about the education system, a financial background and mental wellness are assets. Email helena.tessier@thelinkmb.ca or call 204-949-4785 by Sept. 30.
Ronald McDonald House Manitoba needs service-oriented, compassionate and reliable volunteers to fill volunteer positions at 62 Juno St. and in the family room at Health Sciences Centre. Volunteer shifts are available during the morning, afternoon and evening. Tasks might include baking and meal preparation, light housekeeping and organizing spaces, and checking families in for their stay. Contact Kayla Verot at kayla@rmhmanitoba.org, go to http://wfp.to/j00 or call 204-774.4777, ext. 136, by Oct. 31.
The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Go to http://wfp.to/0pE, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.
The 11,000-square-foot house includes beamed ceilings, oak and mahogany panelling, two sunrooms, five bathrooms, a two-storey veranda, unique tiled fireplaces and exterior walls of rich red brick trimmed with Tyndall stone.
It is furnished with antiques to look the way it would have when Gordon and his family lived there.
“It’s really easy to fall in love with the building,” says Friends board member John Schwandt. “It has very interesting, very admirable architecture and a great heritage story.”
The Friends offer schools interpretive tours to give students an understanding and appreciation of an aspect of early life in Winnipeg.
In addition to serving as a meeting place for the University Women’s Club, the house can be rented for events and is open to the public each year for the Doors Open Winnipeg tour.
Sharing the house with the public is a great joy for Churko, who portrays a chambermaid during interpretive tours, and for Schwandt, who was tasked with greeting visitors during Doors Open last May.
“We had a 20- or 30-minute lineup the entire day for people to take the 20- or 30-minute tour, so I kicked into my garrulous mode and gave everyone a welcome and a capsule of what they were going to see,” Schwandt says.
“I had a little four-minute script I formulated in my mind with the bullet points of what they were going to see and I must have recited that script 200 times. It was a joy to amuse people and give them some information while they were waiting to get into the building.”
Churko is currently looking for volunteers to assist the Friends.
The organization has some special projects coming up and could use help from people with expertise in finance, grant writing, special events, landscaping and heritage regulations.
To get involved, email Churko at teddy.brs47@gmail.com or call 204-757-2274.
“The house is very important,” she says, “and all of our members are very passionate about keeping this house viable for future generations.”
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
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History
Updated on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:56 PM CDT: Fixes link